Stagger_Lee wrote:That said .. on my own research did a lil research on line and found a few creeks online and a way to find access points and parking. Looks like I'm going to need to invest in some orange during hunting season

Also, highly recommend a small rod, even though I am not cool enough to have mine built by a Paff member *tears*

Posted on: 2012/12/1 11:59

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Sure, we can assiduously three-quarter our wets down stream, mend, and wait out each fly swing, which to my way of thinking, anyway, relegates to the angler to role of butler, rather than nemesis.

I appreciate all the great info guys. Now with the basics of FF down, I have been wanting to expand my fishing horizons as well as being a little more adventurous. Now I at least have an outline of how to go about finding a few gems of my own.

Come spring, keep me in mind if any of you guys need someone to come along to capture the "chest slams and hi 5's"

Just remember that doing this kind of fishing can be extremely frustrating. In the beginning you will spend more time getting your line out of the trees than you do fishing. It will get better though but it will never go away.

+1 to what csoult said. It's a different kind of fishing...the fish are fairly easy to catch...once you get the fly in front of them without spooking them. Therein lies the hard part. You take your time scouting out the hole, getting into position, and then try to negotiate out that extra 6 inches of line to get all the way up to the head of the pool and then tug...you get caught on your backcast. You have to stand up to get your fly down and end up spooking the pool anyway. If it's a really good looking hole and I get a fly stuck in a spot where I think I can break if off without spooking the pool, but retrieving it would...I break it off, retie and fish the pool, and then retrieve it later.

Another point...while the methods described for locating streams in this thread will without a doubt put you on to some gems, it will also lead you to some duds too. Don't be discouraged...the exploring and seeing what's around the next corner or above the next waterfall is the fun in this kind of fishing. Truth be told, most streams you'll come across on the lists fall somewhere in between dud and gem, and most of those will harbor enough fish to keep you entertained.

In the beginning you will spend more time getting your line out of the trees than you do fishing. It will get better though but it will never go away.

Sometimes I think it gets worse! I mean, YOU get better.

But as you get better, you try tighter streams, tighter holes that you woulda walked by before, or you try to reach that pool from another 5 feet back. So you spend just as much time in trees, you just get there by doing more difficult casts! lol.

Per spooking ... I read, not sure here or in an article, that native brookies will get very spooked by the person but not by the line/fly splashing the H20 if your presentation is not the best. Is that true?

Posted on: 2012/12/3 16:39

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There are no evil thoughts except one, the refusal to think

That would be a Squatch in a China Shop, I wouldn't make a habit out of slapping the water with your line. Brookies do spook and I've seen them dart for cover when I was 75 feet from the stream walking along a trail.Always be aware of the sun angle you'll better off, you don't want the sun at you back and casting your shadow on the stream.

Posted on: 2012/12/3 18:06

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The object of a resource is to use and reuse a resource, not to use it up, have we learned nothing in over 125 years of stocking?

a good caster with a 5-7' rod can turn a 10' back cast into 20' and so on. If you are standing in the middle of camp run, in most places, you can get 15' back casts at least and shoot another 10' of line, giving you a 25' cast into the pool. If nothing rises after 2 drifts, take 2 steps forward slowly and repeat.

another thing i notice people w. little experience tend to do...

when you finish a pool, do not, unless you have to hike far, reel in all slack and put fly in holder on rod.

I always seat the fly in the holder, but leave enough line out so my fly line is out of the last guide, this way, after walking to next run, I can pull line out and easily get a cast out.

Posted on: 2012/12/4 8:30

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Sure, we can assiduously three-quarter our wets down stream, mend, and wait out each fly swing, which to my way of thinking, anyway, relegates to the angler to role of butler, rather than nemesis.

when you finish a pool, do not, unless you have to hike far, reel in all slack and put fly in holder on rod.

I always seat the fly in the holder, but leave enough line out so my fly line is out of the last guide, this way, after walking to next run, I can pull line out and easily get a cast out.

That's an important item for beginners in this type of fishing. In this type of fishing, you fish, walk, fish, walk, etc. And the walking is frequently in thick stuff. Steve is correct, for the walks, you do not want to reel that knot through the tip guide, then pull it back out to fish, then reel it back in to walk, etc. It's a hassle, the messing around will spook fish, and you will wear out or break the rod tip. But at the same time, you don't want to walk with slack line, either. Slack line catches on EVERYTHING.

I usually attack it by closely watching my leader length. I use a 7'6" rod most times, and generally, I try to keep the leader and tippet short enough so that when I put a fly in the hook holder, the fly line is just off the tip of the rod. This is one reason for short leaders.

In times where I want a little longer leader, I'll loop it around the reel base then back to the hook holder. Gives you an extra foot or so, but you have to be conscious of it or you will tangle.

If I fish a stream where I'm down to a 5 or 6 foot rod, though, that option is nearly out the window. Then I usually loop some line in my hand, and hold it against the rod when I walk. For longer walks I go ahead and reel it through and hook up to the holder.